Latin America faces long-term problems from its colonial past such as environmental crises, political instability, poverty, and crime. Rainforests cover only 6% of the earth but house 50% of its species. As the population grows, more rainforest is cleared through slash-and-burn farming, leading to deforestation and increased carbon emissions. Political instability and a large divide between the wealthy elite and impoverished majority exacerbate poverty and crime issues. The illegal drug trade, dominated by cartels in Mexico and Colombia, fuels high crime rates and violence, especially in cities like Ciudad Juarez. Notorious drug lords like Pablo Escobar made billions trafficking cocaine and lived extravagant lifestyles until

1. Chapter 11 NotesChapter 11 Notes
Today’s Issues: Latin AmericaToday’s Issues: Latin America

2.  Its colonial past has left Latin AmericaIts colonial past has left Latin America
with long-term problems, includingwith long-term problems, including
environmental crises, politicalenvironmental crises, political
instability, poverty and crime.instability, poverty and crime.

3. EnvironmentalEnvironmental

4. Rain ForestsRain Forests
 Rain Forests have greatRain Forests have great
biodiversitybiodiversity--
• Wide range of plant & animalWide range of plant & animal
speciesspecies
• Cover 6% of earth but are home toCover 6% of earth but are home to
50% of earth’s species50% of earth’s species

5. Slash and BurnSlash and Burn
 As the region becomes more populated,As the region becomes more populated,
more room is needed for land and farmsmore room is needed for land and farms
 Slash-&-Burn Farming-Slash-&-Burn Farming- cut down trees,cut down trees,
brush, grasses, and then burn the debrisbrush, grasses, and then burn the debris
• Effective method in tropical regionsEffective method in tropical regions
• Leading to destruction of rain forestsLeading to destruction of rain forests

6. DeforestationDeforestation
 Deforestation-Deforestation- cuttingcutting
down & clearing of treesdown & clearing of trees
• Major problem in the rainMajor problem in the rain
forests of the worldforests of the world
• Why are they cut down?Why are they cut down?
• Global Warming?Global Warming?

7. Global Warming?Global Warming?
 Global Warming & RainGlobal Warming & Rain
Forests-Forests-
• Absorb carbon dioxide fromAbsorb carbon dioxide from
atmosphereatmosphere
• As they are cut down,As they are cut down,
carbon dioxide then buildscarbon dioxide then builds
up in the atmosphereup in the atmosphere
• Causing temps. to riseCausing temps. to rise

8. Rain ForestRain Forest
PreservationPreservation
 Rain Forest PreservationRain Forest Preservation
• Environmentalists have programs such asEnvironmentalists have programs such as debt-for-debt-for-
nature swap-nature swap-
 Environmental organizations agree to pay off part of aEnvironmental organizations agree to pay off part of a
governments debt in order to protect part of the rain forestgovernments debt in order to protect part of the rain forest

10. Political Instability and PovertyPolitical Instability and Poverty

11. Government and SocialGovernment and Social
DivideDivide
 After the Spanish Conquest,After the Spanish Conquest,
most of Latin America wasmost of Latin America was
ruled by Spanish colonists,ruled by Spanish colonists,
this is known as rule by thethis is known as rule by the
few, orfew, or oligarchy.oligarchy.
• Limited rights & freedomsLimited rights & freedoms

12. Military GovernmentsMilitary Governments
 If this didn’t work then theIf this didn’t work then the
government would be run bygovernment would be run by
generals, this is known as agenerals, this is known as a
juntajunta..

13. The CaudilloThe Caudillo
 CaudilloCaudillo- military- military
dictator of Latin Americadictator of Latin America
• Existed mainly during theExisted mainly during the
2020thth
CenturyCentury
• Most famous would beMost famous would be
Juan Peron of ArgentinaJuan Peron of Argentina
• Supported by wealthy &Supported by wealthy &
militarymilitary

14. Struggle Between Rich and PoorStruggle Between Rich and Poor
 The Caudillo caused manyThe Caudillo caused many
problems for theirproblems for their
countries.countries.
 Many times, they oftenMany times, they often
only paid attention to theonly paid attention to the
needs of the rich andneeds of the rich and
wealthy who supportedwealthy who supported
them.them.
 This left the commonThis left the common
people to suffer.people to suffer.
 There is a great divideThere is a great divide
between rich and poor.between rich and poor.

15. Struggle Between Rich and PoorStruggle Between Rich and Poor
 According to the UnitedAccording to the United
Nations, the gapNations, the gap
between the rich andbetween the rich and
poor in Latin America ispoor in Latin America is
the largest in the world.the largest in the world.
 The top 20% of theThe top 20% of the
wealthiest people holdwealthiest people hold
57% of all resources.57% of all resources.
 Urbanization is rampantUrbanization is rampant
as many people haveas many people have
flocked to cities lookingflocked to cities looking
for jobs.for jobs.
 This, in fact, leads toThis, in fact, leads to
more rampant poverty.more rampant poverty.
 In some places such asIn some places such as
Brazil, upwards of 50%Brazil, upwards of 50%
of the population isof the population is
living in impoverishedliving in impoverished
conditions.conditions.

17. CrimeCrime

18. Drug TradeDrug Trade
 TheThe illegal drug tradeillegal drug trade
in Latin Americain Latin America
concerns primarily theconcerns primarily the
production and export toproduction and export to
the United States andthe United States and
Europe of cocaine, meth,Europe of cocaine, meth,
marijuana and heroin.marijuana and heroin.
 While drug use isWhile drug use is
relatively low in Latinrelatively low in Latin
American countries, drugAmerican countries, drug
trafficking has increasedtrafficking has increased
in recent years.in recent years.

19. Drug TradeDrug Trade
 Columbia produces mostly opiumColumbia produces mostly opium
and cocaine, Jamaica producesand cocaine, Jamaica produces
marijuana and Mexico producesmarijuana and Mexico produces
both.both.
 90% of cocaine and 80% of90% of cocaine and 80% of
meth enters the U.S. via Mexico.meth enters the U.S. via Mexico.

20. Drug TradeDrug Trade
 Mexican and Columbian drugMexican and Columbian drug
cartels generate around $39cartels generate around $39
billion a year in revenue.billion a year in revenue.
 Mexican cartels are currentlyMexican cartels are currently
considered the "greatestconsidered the "greatest
organized crime threat" toorganized crime threat" to
the United States.the United States.
 Though many efforts haveThough many efforts have
been made to stop drugbeen made to stop drug
trafficking, its seems thetrafficking, its seems the
business is too lucrative tobusiness is too lucrative to
ever eliminate it completely.ever eliminate it completely.

21. Drug TradeDrug Trade
 As a result of theAs a result of the
concentration of drugconcentration of drug
trafficking, Latin America andtrafficking, Latin America and
the Caribbean has the world'sthe Caribbean has the world's
highest crime rates, withhighest crime rates, with
murder reaching 32.6 permurder reaching 32.6 per
100,000 of population in100,000 of population in
2008.2008.
 Violence has surged in MexicoViolence has surged in Mexico
since 2006 when the Mexicansince 2006 when the Mexican
President intensified thePresident intensified the
Mexican Drug War.Mexican Drug War.
 In total, Mexico’s drug warIn total, Mexico’s drug war
has claimed 50,000 lives.has claimed 50,000 lives.

22. Ciudad JuarezCiudad Juarez
 Ciudad Juarez is Mexico’sCiudad Juarez is Mexico’s
deadliest city due to drugdeadliest city due to drug
trafficking and drug wars.trafficking and drug wars.
 This city is home to widespreadThis city is home to widespread
poverty and violence.poverty and violence.
 Some researchers have predictedSome researchers have predicted
over 5,000 murders will occur inover 5,000 murders will occur in
Ciudad Juarez alone in 2011.Ciudad Juarez alone in 2011.
 This is 10x worse than the mostThis is 10x worse than the most
murderous cities in the U.S.murderous cities in the U.S.
 Such violence has changed theSuch violence has changed the
way of life.way of life.
 People now stay indoors more often for fearPeople now stay indoors more often for fear
of kidnapping or random violence.of kidnapping or random violence.

23. Ciudad JuarezCiudad Juarez
 While more police andWhile more police and
military personnel are in themilitary personnel are in the
region, the violence persists.region, the violence persists.
 In 2008, Police Chief MajorIn 2008, Police Chief Major
Castro and several otherCastro and several other
police officers werepolice officers were
abducted by heavily armedabducted by heavily armed
men.men.
 Three days later, hisThree days later, his
decapitated body anddecapitated body and
severed head were dumpedsevered head were dumped
in front of the police station.in front of the police station.

25. Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar
 Pablo Escobar was perhapsPablo Escobar was perhaps
the most famous drug lord.the most famous drug lord.
 He was the head of theHe was the head of the
famousfamous Colombian MedellinColombian Medellin
CartelCartel in the 1970’s andin the 1970’s and
1980’s and was mainly1980’s and was mainly
responsible for the large scaleresponsible for the large scale
introduction of the drugintroduction of the drug
cocainecocaine to the United States.to the United States.
 It was said he wasIt was said he was
responsible for 80% of allresponsible for 80% of all
cocaine trafficked to the U.S.cocaine trafficked to the U.S.

26. Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar
 He started at 20 years oldHe started at 20 years old
by buying coca paste andby buying coca paste and
refining it into cocaine.refining it into cocaine.
 Soon thereafter, he wasSoon thereafter, he was
making billions of dollars.making billions of dollars.
 His fortune was endless.His fortune was endless.
 He owned many largeHe owned many large
estates with mansions, hisestates with mansions, his
own personal zoo, airstrips,own personal zoo, airstrips,
warehouses for productionwarehouses for production
and an army of hardenedand an army of hardened
soldiers and criminals.soldiers and criminals.
 He even owned his ownHe even owned his own
soccer team team/club!soccer team team/club!

27.  Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar madeColombian drug lord Pablo Escobar made
so much money that he spent $2,500 aso much money that he spent $2,500 a
month on rubber bands to bundle up hismonth on rubber bands to bundle up his
stacks of cash.stacks of cash.

29. Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar
 Escobar’s ruthlessness wasEscobar’s ruthlessness was
legendary.legendary.
 His rise was opposed byHis rise was opposed by
many honest politicians,many honest politicians,
judges and policemen, whojudges and policemen, who
did not like the growingdid not like the growing
influence of this street thug.influence of this street thug.
 However, Escobar had aHowever, Escobar had a
saying on how to deal withsaying on how to deal with
this, “plata o plomo”.this, “plata o plomo”.
 What do you think heWhat do you think he
meant by this?meant by this?

30. Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar
 Escobar wasEscobar was
always ready foralways ready for
war and he had anwar and he had an
army to back himarmy to back him
up.up.
 Killing was just anKilling was just an
average day foraverage day for
him.him.

31. Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar
 Despite his ruthlessness,Despite his ruthlessness,
Escobar also had a soft side.Escobar also had a soft side.
 He often made time for thoseHe often made time for those
he loved, especially hishe loved, especially his
children.children.
 He also reached out to theHe also reached out to the
community and gave back.community and gave back.
 He spent millions on parks,He spent millions on parks,
schools, stadiums, churchesschools, stadiums, churches
and even housing for theand even housing for the
poorest people of hispoorest people of his
hometown of Medellín.hometown of Medellín.
 In a way, he was like theIn a way, he was like the
Colombian Robin Hood.Colombian Robin Hood.

33. Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar
 According toAccording to ForbesForbes
MagazineMagazine, at the height of, at the height of
his power in the midhis power in the mid
1980’s, Escobar was the 71980’s, Escobar was the 7thth
richest man in the world.richest man in the world.
 He was worth around $24He was worth around $24
billion.billion.
 He was more powerful thanHe was more powerful than
many political leaders.many political leaders.
 He could order the murderHe could order the murder
of anyone, anytime.of anyone, anytime.

34. Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar
 Being one of the mostBeing one of the most
ruthless and powerfulruthless and powerful
people in the world alsopeople in the world also
has it’s drawbacks.has it’s drawbacks.
 He was a wanted man byHe was a wanted man by
many, including the Unitedmany, including the United
States.States.
 In 1991, the U.S. called forIn 1991, the U.S. called for
his arrest and to behis arrest and to be
extradited.extradited.
 A massive manhunt wasA massive manhunt was
organized and Escobarorganized and Escobar
went into hiding.went into hiding.

35. Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar
 In late 1992, there wereIn late 1992, there were
many organizationsmany organizations
looking for Escobar,looking for Escobar,
including a U.S. trainedincluding a U.S. trained
Colombian Task ForceColombian Task Force
as well as rival cartels.as well as rival cartels.
 In 1993, using U.S.In 1993, using U.S.
security technology,security technology,
Escobar was located atEscobar was located at
a house in Medellin.a house in Medellin.
 The task force moved inThe task force moved in
to apprehend him butto apprehend him but
Escobar fought back.Escobar fought back.

36. Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar
 There was a shootout and Escobar wasThere was a shootout and Escobar was
gunned down as he tried to escape on thegunned down as he tried to escape on the
rooftop of the house.rooftop of the house.

37. Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar
 With Escobar gone, theWith Escobar gone, the
Medellín Cartel quickly lostMedellín Cartel quickly lost
power.power.
 However, more drug cartelsHowever, more drug cartels
rose up to take it’s place.rose up to take it’s place.
 While he is gone, many peopleWhile he is gone, many people
are still fascinated andare still fascinated and
intrigued by one of the mostintrigued by one of the most
powerful crime lords in history.powerful crime lords in history.
 And while some peopleAnd while some people
considered him evil, othersconsidered him evil, others
loved him and often visit hisloved him and often visit his
grave out of respect.grave out of respect.